Corrupted heart. Options

[jack cloudy]

Alas, I couldn't wait for Agent to finish before I began my next story. Oh, curse me, all of you whose blood shall be spilled before this story comes to an end.

Ahem, I don't expect my loyal readers to complain though. Heh, I hope I managed to portray the first of my main characters nicely. And one last thing that might be interesting to know. This story takes place before the birth of Luper. So yes, that means at least 23 years before any of my other stories. Now, without further stalling I present:


Corrupted heart.

Chapter 1: Among the cold dirt, the fallen lie.

Consciousness flickered, remaining just out of reach. His senses delivered their messages to his clouded mind, broken fragments of a greater whole. The sound of heavy boots hammering cold rock, the smell of dust in his nose, the feeling of being carried in a boneshattering grip. A taste, plaguing the tip of his tongue. Blood, his blood.

The feeling of movement stopped. Words now echoed in his ears, words he did not comprehend.
,,This looks good enough. Open the door.” The shriek of rusted metal being moved ripped through the haze clouding his mind. Now consciousness returned fully and with it, a chance. For a moment, he continued to feign unconsciousness. Long enough to hear more words, words not meant for him.
,,You, don’t move unless you want even greater problems.” The hands holding him pushed him along. His tail brushed against iron bars. Now was the time.

With the frightening grace of a natural killer, his muscles sprang back to full readiness. He used the body of his captor to swing around, somersaulting into the air and landing on the unfortunate man’s back. With a quick swipe, claws ripped out the man’s throat and crushed his neck. Even before the man began to lose his signs of life, the killer had leapt away. The next guard found himself smashed against the iron bars of the cell. Claws leaving a trail of blood in the air where the last thing the man saw before his eyes were removed. He too died soon afterwards. The whole event had taken less than a second from start to finish.

Breathing heavily from both his exertion and the rough treatment he’d received earlier, the killer stared down at his latest victims. In a slow symbolic movement, he raised his claws and licked them clean of blood, savouring the taste. His ears began to pick up the sound of distant boots coming steadily closer. A standard patrol. His hand snatched the nearby torch from the wall and he slammed the piece of wood into a dusty pool of water. There was a large cloud of smoke and then, darkness.

Even though there was practically no light left, his eyes still saw as good as if he was standing outside on a clear day. He quickly scanned the nearby cells. The one which had been destined for him was already occupied by the short stature of a Bosmer. The one directly on the opposite side of the tunnel was occupied by a muscular Dunmer who looked around warily, not seeing a thing. The killer took a double take on the two beings. While the Dunmer displayed all the expected signs of fear, the Bosmer surprisingly acted as if she hadn’t noticed the massacre at all. She just looked at the ground in front of her bare feet with a blank stare.
,,Must have lost its mind so deep underground.” The Killer concluded. He knew from experience that many Bosmer were extremely claustrophobic and hated being in a room without any windows or underground. A natural result from living in the treetops of Valenwood.

The boots had now gotten close. Soon, the owner of these boots would see the darkness ahead and know that something was wrong. By then though, it would be too late. The Killer crouched at the edge of the darkness, confident in the natural camouflage he had. Now the guard ventured into view and the killer’s heart skipped a beat. This was no guard. The fingers of fear reached out for him, embracing him with their cold touch. It was a feeling he hadn’t felt since childhood. The darkness in the tunnel was vanquished by a bright burst of light. With that same burst, the light in his eyes faded and he slipped into unconsciousness once more.

An armoured boot stomped on the ground beside his head.
,,You’ve missed your chance. Enjoy the blood you’ve claimed. They were your last kill.” A gruff voice said as the killer was picked up and taken to his cell.

[jack cloudy]

Say, does anyone know what the Imperial palace looks like on the inside? Honestly, I'm improvising here. Ah well, I bet that it has a character like the one in this update. Or it should have.






Once inside, Marsh looked around, looking completely disinterested with those around him. In reality though, he was fully alert to any change in the situation. Once he’d spotted Rajn and the Breton, he followed them, stopping to gaze at the various paintings on the way. The two had apparently picked up their conversation again which annoyed the Argonian ceaselessly.
,,She’s going to mess up all of my plans single-handedly like this.”

,,The palace can be seen as the heart of the Empire in more ways than one. Of course the Emperor is seated here but that’s not all. All provinces have had an influence on the interior of the palace. We’ve got Glass relief’s from Morrowind, Silver statues from High Rock, Lanterns from the Summerset Isles, Carpets from Argonian silk, furniture from Valenwood and I forgot what Skyrim offered.” Lucius pointed all over the place like a tour guide. To complement the scene, Rajn was staring everywhere in wonder like a tourist. That was till she saw the furniture.
,,What?! They cut down trees back home and turned them into tables?!” She blurted out.
,,I know, different cultural values. I still don’t like it.” She added, doing her best to calm down. From the other side of the hall, Marsh sighed and left the hall.

He couldn’t keep an eye out on her any longer. The moment he’d entered the palace, he’d entered the endless game of politics. Any lingering in the hall with his current clothing would raise suspicion. Naturally, the attention would then shift to the other strangers in the hall. It wouldn’t take long for an observant eye to reveal the connection he had with eh Bosmer. He wasn’t without options though. Like everyone else, he secretly paid several of the servants to be his hidden ears and eyes. As such he approached one of the servants on his payroll and requested a glass of whine.
,,Keep an eye on those two, especially the Bosmer with the bow.” He whispered and left, knowing that he would receive a report in less than an hour. Though he also knew that he wasn’t the only one who was watching them and he was being watched himself. That was the life of a politician in Cyrodiil.

,,Well, I can’t honestly say it ever bothered me. Then again, I’m from High Rock and we look different at things there. As you said, cultural values. But then again, there is something called respecting another person’s culture. So since your people view plantlife as sacred, we should’ve taken the wood from somewhere else.” Lucius said by way of an apology. Rajn waved him off.
,,Don’t go kiss the floor because of my feelings. I’m getting used to seeing strange things that would have you hung back home.”

Before either of them could continue their discussion on the furniture, they were addressed by an exquisitively dressed Altmer.
,,Good morning, sir Stoneleaf. Perhaps you might grant me the honour of introducing me to your companion?” He asked with a rather snobbish sounding voice which caused Rajn to immediately dislike him. The fact that he was easily twice as tall as her didn’t quite help break the ice either. Lucius showed none of his feelings.
,,Ah, forgive me. Housemaster Alvuis, I’d like to introduce Rajn Treesap to you. She’s a recent addition to the ones my family are happy to count as friends. Rajn Treesap, it is my pleasure and most distinct honour to introduce to you Housemaster Alvuis. He makes sure that the household of the palace is always conducted orderly.” The Breton said, making a deep bow to his listeners.

Rajn blinked a few times.
,,Ok, so basically you just told our names? What’s up with all the cryptic mumbling?” She asked, which brought out a most displeased expression on Alvuis’ face. This expression became even worse when he looked at the floor.
,,Perhaps lady Treesap would be pleased to alter her attire for her stay in the palace?” He asked, sounding even more snobbish than before. Rajn blinked again. Lucius leaned over to her ear once he saw her confusion.
,,He asks if you want to change your clothes. He doesn’t like the muddy footprints.” He whispered politely.

The Bosmer looked down at hr feet. Indeed, a trail of wet mud clearly showed where she’d set her feet.
,,I can’t believe it. I’ve walked through the whole city and I’m still trailing mud.” She imitated the Altmer’s snobbish tone.
,,I don’t have any other clothes though.” She whispered back to the Breton after her fun with the Housemaster.

Lucius thought about it for a second before snapping his fingers.
,,Ah, that should be no difficulty. Housemaster, please give her a room for the night. I’ll send over one of my servants with a more proper choice of clothing.” He said to Alvuis and turned away.
,,Just follow the Housemaster. I’ll take care of everything else then.” He told Rajn before whispering into her ear again.
,,You might want to take a bad while you have the chance. To be honest, you reek as if you’ve spent times near the sewer exit.” When he tried to walk away, he felt a hand tugging his sleeve.
,,Wait just a minute. I can’t go and accept that. You’ve done too much already.” Rajn complained.
,,Besides, I already pilfered the keys I need and I don’t want to take this too far. If you keep being so nice to me, I’ll actually feel bad about ditching you like a broken lockpick.”

,,No, no. I insist. You should take advantage of the situation whenever you can. Now, I’ll see you later.” Since he had his back turned to her, he did not see the girl’s irritated expression.
,,Damn, he’s simply too cute. This will be harder than I thought.”
Alvuis looked down on the Bosmer. Now that the noble had left, he had no reason to continue his polite manners. She wasn’t a noble and as such held no real rank here.
,,I suppose it is my duty to help those less fortunate than myself.” He said, his disgust now unmasked.

Rajn stabbed a finger at his stomach, the highest she could reach.
,,Now you stop this whole ‘I’m better than you’ nonsense! Less fortunate than myself, phah! At least I’m not the one who always has to talk in sentences that make my tongue twist into a knot. I’d like to see you walk outside with that attitude. Those fancy robes aren’t going to stop the wolves.” The Altmer gave her a scorching stare and then walked out of the hall, his robe swishing in his wake. After a few seconds, Rajn figured she was supposed to follow him and somewhat reluctantly, she did.

The two kept a cool silence during their walk through several halls and up several stairs. Alvuis finally stopped at one of the countless doors that were indistinguishable from their brethren.
,,Consider this chamber to be your home during your sojourn in Cyrodiil. Inside you’ll find all the necessities. I’ll have a servant sent to you.” He spoke and left without giving the required bow. Rajn glared at his back till he was out of her sight.
,,I should’ve tried to hit on him. At least then I wouldn’t feel any regrets about the betrayal later on.” She muttered to herself and opened the door.